USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 13
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The Rebel prisoners were halted near the wagon train, and rations issned to them, Capt. Espy, of the 115th Illinois. who was then the acting Commissary on the Staff of the Brigade Commander, even prepared hot coffee for them, and gave them an abundance of hard bread and bacon. There were among the prisoners a Colonel. a Lieutenant Colonel. a Major, an Adjutant and about thirty-tive line officers. At four o'clock P. M. the NINETY-SIXTH took the prisoners in charge, and escorted them back to Murfreesboro. The prisoners seemed quite happy and jolly. and were apparently familiar with the
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ESCORTING PRISONPES TO MURFREESBORO.
ground over which they were passing. At one place a lady came out and shook hands with some of them, one of the prisoners remarking: "I have stood guard here many a time, and while I would go into the house and eat. on the invitation of the lady, she would come out and stand guard for me until my meal was finished." At another place a matron with two or three blooming daughters came ont to the road side and threw kisses to the prisoners, expressing the hope that they wouldn't be gone long. The old lady expressed the wish that all the negroes might be killed, and that all the white boys, north and south, might be saved. The trip was a very tedious one. The prisoners were all cavalrymen, unused to marching, and many of them became very foot-sore. There were several ambulances in the rear of the column. and those who gave out were permitted to ride. The members of the NINETY-SIXTH marched, with guns loaded and bayonets fixed. along the edge of the pike. the prisoners traveling in the cen- tre. The distance traveled was not more than ten miles, but Murfreesboro was not reached until after ten o'clock, and both the guards and their prisoners were thoroughly tired. The prisoners were turned over to Gen. Van Cleve. and at a little before midnight the Regiment bivouacked in an open field or yard. hoping to have a quiet night's sleep. Hardly had they got comfortably settled and fairly asleep before the rain came ponring down in forrents. There was a scramble on the part of the majority, and under the lead of Major Smith, who had been reconnaitreing the locality. those who were hr-t roused made their way to a large warehouse. This building consisted principally of a roof. and was piled full of boxes of hard bread. The men crawled to the top of the vast pile of boxes and slept close under the roof. Many of the Regiment were so worn out. however, with their long nights on picket and the hard marching in the rain and med that they were not awakened by the storm, although it was raining hard, until the water was standing all about them, and they were thoroughly soaked. A few even slept through until morning, but before daylight nearly all were in the ware- house.
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Sunday, June 29, the Regiment moved to the baggage train and drew rations, and at ten o'clock set out from Mur freesboro for the front again, first strapping on their kuap- sacks, parted with four days before. About a mile out a Company of Federals were met, having in charge thirty or forty prisoners, and about five miles out another Company with about an equal number. Following this latter squad were three pieces of captured artillery and a lot of captured horses. Arrived at the camp from which the Regiment had started the day before, it was hoped and expected that a halt would be made and the troops given an opportunity of seear- ing somme much needed rest, but it was found that orders were awaiting the arrival of the NINETY-Sram for the Brigade to immediately march on, which it did, finally camping at eight o'clock in the evening eighteen miles south of Murfreesboro and about nine miles from Shelbyville. This was about the first night since leaving Triune that it did not rain, and the Regiment enjoyed a good night's sleep. It should be stated, however, that there had been heavy showers during the pre- ceding afternoon. The members of the Regiment appreciated this season of quiet, for all were greatly fatigued with their long march. and worn out by the severe night duty imposed on them.
Monday, June 30, the Brigade started at seven o'clock in the morning and marched about seven miles. On the road Guy's Gap was passed. There was a strong line of fortitica- lions, and the trees and fences bore marks of the sharp fight- ing on the part of the cavalry. Shelbyville was reached. and a camp made on the ground which but two or three days before had been occupied by a large force of the enemy.
On Tuesday, July 1, word having been passed through the line that the Brigade was to remain at Shelbyville, the men set about fixing up the camp in good. comfortable shape. After an hour or two of hard work the assembly was sounded and they were called in line, marched to the other side of the town and camped near Duck River. The distance trav- eled was not more than a mile or two, but the weather was of that peculiar, sultry character, occasionally encountered in
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FROM SHELBYVILLE TO WARTRACE. 141
warm latitudes, which is thoroughly enervating and depressing. and the men suffered greatly before they had completed the march and the erection of their tents.
Wednesday, July 2, the Regiment was permitted to lie idle and enjoyed a good rest. They explored the town and examined the fortifications, finding minnerous forts and a very heavy line of breastworks extending partially around the pleasant village, either flank being protected by the river. Many refugees came into town, most of them being men who were known to sympathize with the Union, and who had been forced to leave their homes during the period when that region was occupied by the Confederates. Many and hearty were the greetings as families came together for the first time in long months. Quite a number of the Tennessee cavalry had enlisted from Shelbyville, and when they charged the Rebels on the Friday previous, one of them shot a man as he was riding past his own house. Some of the men left the ranks for a moment and rode up to their homes, kissed their wives or parents, or children. as the case might be, and then rode off again into the battle. Fortunately the casualties were not very munerons, and most of these men were permitted to remain at their homes for a day or two.
Major J. C. Smith was here assigned to duty as Provost Marshal. on the staff of General Baird. with headquarters at Wartrace, which were subsequently transferred to Shelbyville, and then to Murfreesboro, where he remained until the for- ward movement of the Division, in September.
Thursday, July 3. the Regiment marched to Wartrace, a distance of about eight miles. Rain fell in torrents at times. and every little creek and stream was swollen to unwonted size. As a consequence the soldiers were often compelled to wade in water two or three feet deep, and once at least they forded a stream waist deep, being obliged to take off their arcontrements and carry them on their bayonets. When it rained the hardest the troops seemed the happiest, shouting and singing and making merry. even though the surroundings were hardly such as to make it easy to account for such hilar- ity. However, all were in high spirits at the news of the
E
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History of THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
capture of Tullahoma, and rejoiced at the substantial progress made by the army. Strange a it may seem, most of them regarded the rain as rather favorable to campaigning. as it served to cool the air, which otherwise would have been into! erably hot. At times, on this short march from Shelbyville. the sun came out and the weather was oppressive in its sultri- ness. Wartrace was a little station on the Nashville & Chat- tanooga Railroad, and not an important point except that there were two or three railroad bridges to be guarded in tl .. neighborhood. Camp was reached early in the afternoon. and all set at work to make themselves comfortable. The ground selected was a little to the case of the village, and had formerly been occupied as a camping ground by the enelus. It was filthy in the extreme, and much labor was required to put it in order.
This campaign of less than a fortnight had been a remark- ably successful one. The enemy had been forced to abandon its strong line of fortifications and retire to the mountains. yielding a country of vast size. much of which abounded in supplies useful to the troops that occupied it. The strategi of Gen. Rosecrans had been of a high order. With a loss of less than six hundred men, and in a country naturally rich io defense, he had outflanked and forced backward from their chosen lines an enemy almost, if not quite, equal to his own. and would have gained still further advantages bad not the streams been so swollen as to make rapid pursuit impossible. Tullahoma was ocepied by the Union forces June 30, Som. of the troops were at once pushed out toward the moth- tains, and the cavalry penetrate.l, to the Tennessee River. behind which Bragg's main army retreated. The two armies at this time occupied almost the same relative positions and the identical territory held by them exactly a year before, when the Confederate invasion of Kentucky was planned and the race for the Ohio River began between the forces led respectively by Gens. Buell and Bragg. During the month that followed the main body of the infantry of the Army of the Cumberland was comparatively idle, camping in the neigh- borhood of Dechard and Winchester. The cavahy was active.
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FOURTH OF JULY IN CAMP.
However, and kept the line of the Tennessee River patrolled. Work was also beguin on the railroad. so that the supplies should not have to be brought through on wagons.
The Nivery-Sixru now came to know that being in the Reserve Corps meant that they were to be stationed at various points along the railroad guarding bridges, wagon trains and prisoners. The Reserve Corps was widely scattered from the neighborhood of Fort Donelson to Duck River .-- a Brigade, a Regiment or a Company in a place, according as its import- ance demanded. For the time being the First Brigade of the First Division, to which the Nisery-Sixin belonged. remained at Wartrace.
Saturday, July 4- a memorable day at Vicksburg and Gettysburg-the Regiment lay idly in camp. Tired with their long march in the mud and rain, most of them slept a considerable part of the day, and there was no attempt at anything like a celebration except that Capt. Hicks and Col. Atkins, with a few invited guests, had a banquet. with after- dinner speeches. There were very heavy guard details from the Regiment, a line of pickets extending around the camp. and quite a distance out, in all directions. Blackberries were abundant, and the men feasted on this luscious fruit.
Sunday, July 5, there was preaching in the camp. The blackberry crop inside the picket line being about exhausted, perinits were given to a few men in every Company to go out- side the lines in search of fruit. New potatoes and apples were found in the neighborhood and supplemented the army rations. The men had learned the art of soldiering pretty well. and as soon as they arrived in camp, if there was a prospect of remaining longer than for a single day, would set about constructing bunks, raising the above ground by means of posts or erotehets. For the construction of these bunks, barns, abandoned houses or board fences were used. and if the supply gave out small poles would be substituted. On these would be laid a few bundles of corn blades, or some cedar boughs, straw or leaves. Sometimes the officers inter- fered. in the endeavor to prevent the destruction of buildings. but in such cases the first dark night the building was pretty
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History of THE. 96mh RAMMLAr. l. V. I.
sure to disappear. In this way the men made themselves confortable, and the bad; were dry and well ventilated.
Monday, July 6. there were heavy details from the Reg ;- ment for the purpose of chopping wood. Now, chopping wood at any time is not especially easy work, but take it in Middle Tennessee, on a hot July day, and the average Ameri- can soldier rather rebels against this class of labor, and regards it as almost drudgery. It was explained. however. that it was absolutely necessary to procure fuel for the logo motives to be used on the railroads. At this amouncoment there was an entire change of sentiment, and the work was cheerfully porfamed. The amount of wood ent by any one man was not large, but in a few days there was a goodby pile- at every station. For the first time in months the men were allowed to remain in bed until sunrise, a privilege that they appreciated after the long period of three and four o'clock réveilles.
At this time the 92d Illinois was sent to a point on Duck River, about seven miles toward the front, to build a wagon bridge. Col. Wilder's Brigade of mounted infantry, then camped at Wartrace, furnished an escort. the Colonel himself accompanying the expedition. Col. Atkins, of the 92d, had been conneander of the Brigade for about six months, and it was well understood that there was anything but a cordia! feeling existing between him and Gon. Granger. the oom mander of the Reserve Corps. On the return of that Rizi. mom. toward the close of the week, announcement was well . that the 924 and Nivwir-Sixre, which had been together almost constantly from their organization, must part company. the former having been assigned to Col. Wilder's Brigade. Word passed through the camp immediately, and within an hour every Regiment in the Brigade was clamoring for horses and a transfer. Not that the dissatisfaction regarding Gen. Granger was so universal, but the men of a sudden seemed to be seized with the idea that it would be a fine thing to march on horseback and go to the front, rather than to tramp around on foot. chop wood for the railroad, and be ou picket about every second or third night.
GEORGE W. PEPOON. FIRST LIEUTENANT. COMPANY K.
WYHORMOD -TRANSTUTIA TERIT CEOBCE M LELONH
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GOOD NEWS REELIVED. 145
The "nine months' fever" had, of course, been dropped, bat for some weeks there was an almost equal rage in the camp. the new disease being the "cavalry fever." Only the 924 received the coveted transfer, however, and it was with great difficulty that they succeeded in procuring horses and saddles.
Tuesday, July 7. there was great excitement throughout the day, dispatches having been received from the Secretary of War, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, announcing thet Vicksburg lind surrendered to the army under Gen. Grant, and that the Union forces under Gen. Mcade had won a great victory at Gettysburg. The successful advance of the Auny of the Cumberland had made them all hopeful, and now that such good news was received from other departments there was the wildest joy. These dispatches were rend to each Regiment, and the remainder of the day was spent in a grand informal celebration.
Wednesday, July S, the officers concluded that, as the men were feeling so clated over the recent victories, they would not object to reamning the routine of camp duties. which had been in a measure omitted since leaving Triune. Accordingly there was a dress parade in the carly evening, and orders for a resumption of drill next day. The bridges between Murfreesboro and Tullahoma having been repaired or rebuilt, a locomotive, with a baggage car or caboose attached. passed southward through Wartrace, and was the signal for hearty cheering. Next day it returned with about three hundred prisoners, captured by Gen. Rosecrans' command a few days before. Additional dispatches were received coturning the good news of Tuesday. It was stated in the dispatches that Gen. Meade had captured 33,000 prisoners : that Gen. Lou's army was hemmed in along the Potomac, hi- pontoons being swept away by the high warer, and that his capture was inevitable. Word was also received that Gen. Prentiss had captured a large number of prisoners at Helena. These dis- patches were read to the Regiments, and were the signal for the most vociferous cheering, but unfortunately their state- ments were not fully verified by the facts.
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HISTORY Of THE 90TH REGIMENT, IM .. V. J.
Friday, July to, the first passenger train from the North passed through the camp, bringing a large letter mail and the Nashville daily papers. As there had been great irregularity about the mails for nearly a month, all were eager for papers. and the newsboys were able to sell, at almost any price they chose to ask. all that they could carry. Fifteen cents was the price usually obtained.
The diary for the following month would be rather monot- onous than otherwise. The weather continued warm, with frequent rains, and guard duty was very heavy. On the fifteenth there was a visit from the Brigade Inspector, and the same day a large amount of clothing was issued to the Regimem. From the arrival at Wartrace there had been a great amount of sickness in the camp. the cases puzzling the surgeons of the Regiment, as they were unable to define the cause. At times almost one-half of the command was mifit for duty, nearly all suffering from dysentery. It hap- pened about this time that a physician, who was a resident of the neighborhood. but who had long been a refugee be- cause of his Union sentiments, returned from his wander- ings. Coming to the camp he reported to the officers that the spring from which they were obtaining water was regarded by the inhabitants as a poisoned spring, and he stated that not less than 100 Rebels had died from the effects of using it. Whether the report was strictly true or not. it was deemail best to move the camp about one-fourth of a mile to a field near which was another spring. The first camp was behind a range of balls where the sun did not reach until nine o'clock or later, and was consequently somewhat damp. Certain it is that the health of the men very materially improved as soon as its location was changed.
Word reached the Regiment about this time that Corporal Worthy S. Taylor, of Company D. had been killed in action near Camp Deni-on. Ohio, July 12. He had been sick in hospital for some time, but having partially recovered was called out. with other convalescents, to repel the Rebel raiders then sweeping through Southern Ohio under the lead of the notorious Gen. John HI. Morgan, and inet his death at the
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A CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.
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hands of the enemy, far away from the comrades with whom he had culisted.
July 21, the Regiment received two months' pay, Maj. Williams being the Paymaster. This closed all accounts to the first of the month, and made money very plenty in camp, although large amounts were sent home. The same day Col onel Champion took command of the Brigade, Col. Atkins having gone to the front with Col. Wilder. In a few days Gen. Walter C. Whittaker relieved Colonel Champion, the latter returning to the command of the Regiment. About the same time Gen. James B. Steedman succeeded to the com- mand of the Division, relieving Gen. Baird, who went home on sick leave. subsequently returning and taking a command at the front.
Un the twenty-severth there was a grand review of the Brigade by Gen. Whittaker, who expressed himself as de- lighted with his new command, and was especially profuse in praise of the NINETY-SIXTH.
On the twenty-sixth Jacob Harwick, of Company F, dicd in hospital at Nashville. On the twenty-eighth Hamden Huntington, of Company C, died in the regimental hospital. Huntington was a mere lad, but seventeen years of age, but of quiet yet happy demeanor, and had greatly endeared him- self to his comrades. At the earnest request of his brother. Sergeant Huntington, his remains were enclosed in a metallic casket and taken home to Lake County for interment. Ou the thirtieth William D. Sells, of Company D, died in the same hospital. He left a finnily at home to enter the service. A pretty spot near the camp was chosen for his grave.
Captain Black, who formerly commanded Company E, but who had resigned some months before, visited the Regiment. During all this long stay at Wartrace there was more or less excitement regarding threatened raids on the part of the vbemy, and heavy guard details were kept at each of the rail- rad bridges along the line. Occasionally a scouting or forany- ing party would go out, and once or twice they encountered Rebels, but no serious collisions occurred.
August 3. Gen. Rosecrans and staff spent part of the day at
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, IL. V. I.
Wartrace, inspecting the troops and looking over the ground, and in the afternoon having a grand review. As the General rode along the line he made many remarks that were quite amusing. Referring to Lieutenant Colonel Clarke, who was quite portly, he remarked : " There is a Colonel who doesn't live on salt pork altogether." Pointing to a very short Cor- poral in Company E, he said : "That Corporal ought to be fed on soup a while to see if he wouldn't grow." To others he made similar remarks, keeping the line in excellent kannor. Hle declared that he could tell, by the look of the mon, what kind of cooks they had. On the whole his visit created a very favorable impression. A. conspicvous figure on his staff was Brig. Gen. James A. Garfield, then his Chief of Staff, and afterward President of the United States. Gen. Garfield's reception by the 40th Ohio, of the First Brigade, which had been in his command in Eastern Kentucky in 1862, was espe- cially cordial. For a time there had been but little drilling, but now strict orders were issued to resume battalion drill. The weather was hot, and the drilling was consequently done early in the morning, being kept up for a week or more.
Thursday, August 6, occurred a special Thanksgiving day. under a proelnation from President Lincoln, the recent vic- tories of the Union army being deemed such as to call for especial thanksgiving on the part of the people, both citizens and soldiers. The day was observed by abstinence from drill. and also by formal religious services, which were participated in by largo delegations from each of the Regiments encamped at Wartrace.
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A NEW CAMPAIGN INAUGURATED.
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CHAPTER IX.
The Chattanooga Campaign-The Difficulties and Delays Attending ite Inauguration - Conditions Named but not Complied with - Gen. Bragg Outwitted and Outflanked - The "Gateway of the South" Opened with Unexpected Ease-The Part Taken by the Reserve Corps in the Campaign -The March to Estill Springs-Scouting Experiences-An Anniversary Celebrated by a Portion of the Com- board -- Forward -- Climbing the Cumberland Mountains -- A Brief Hali at Bridgeport -- A Forced Mach over Lookout Mountain to Rossville- The Conflict at Haud -- Preparing for the Sacrifice.
The student of military science will find few more interest- ing chapters in all the world's history than those which give the particulars of the brilliant movement by which Gen. Bragg was forced to abandon the line of the Tennessee River. Be- hind this line he had retired at the close of the brief but spirited campaign which ended in the abandonment of Tulla- homa by the Confederates and its occupancy by Gen. Rose- crans' command. That movement was begun in August, and in less than one month the stars and stripes were waving over Chattanooga. Prior to its inception there was a spirited and almost bitter correspondence between Gen. Halleck and the commander of the Army of the Cumberland. Gen. Rosecrans insisted that he must have a larger cavalry forte : that he must wait for the ripening of the corn, unless larger provision should be made for a supply of forage than there had been up to that time : that he must wait for the completion of the rail- road to the Tennessee River, and that a movement must be made by other forces on his right and left flanks. in order that a diversion might be created in his favor, and even though troops might not be drawn from his front. at least that the enemy in East Tennessee and Northern Mississippi might be kept diverted and occupied so that they could not go to the support and assistance of Gen. Bragg. A portion only of these demands were complied with. Before the close of July the
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HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
railroad was rebuilt and trains were rimming to Bridgeport. Alabama. Meanwhile the corn was approaching matmity. and some gains were made in acemimdating provisions at Nash- ville, Murfreesboro and points nearer the front. On the fifth of August imperative orders were given from Washington for the army to advance. Gen. Rosecrans, claiming that he was the better judge as to when a movement should be made. delayed the advance for some days. Despairing of the asked for diversion on the part of other commands he sent. a portion of his cavalry to Huntsville, on the right, with instructions in move along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, protecting it so far as possible, and guarding the Fine of the Tennessee River from Whitesburg to Bridgeport. After a time Gen. Burnside moved into East Tounessee, but succeeded in hokl ing only a small force of the enemy in that region.
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